Ophthalmic lens scanner

ABSTRACT

An ophthalmic lens scanner includes an inspection platform configured to receive an ophthalmic lens thereon. A camera is spaced apart from the inspection platform and is arranged to, in response to an activation signal, capture an image of the ophthalmic lens. A light source is spaced apart from the inspection platform and is configured to emit light when the camera is activated to capture an image of the ophthalmic lens. The inspection platform is located between the camera and the light source. A first Fresnel lens is located between the inspection platform and the camera. A second Fresnel lens is located between the inspection platform and the light source. The ophthalmic lens scanner may be incorporated in an ophthalmic lens scanner system that includes a computing device and a display device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/258,029, filed Nov. 4, 2009,the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates generally to the manufacture of optical lenses.

BACKGROUND

In the prescription optical industry, retail ophthalmic dispensers andwholesale production ophthalmic laboratories encounter a number ofissues in manufacturing prescription eyeglasses. One issue, for example,is inconvenience to eyewear patients. Lenses are cut to fit each frame.When an eyewear patient is in need of a change in prescription lenspowers and wishes to use his or her existing eyewear frame instead ofpurchasing a complete pair of eyeglasses, the patient must generallysurrender his or her frame to the retail optical dispenser so that itcan be shipped to the optical laboratory for lens fitting. Because mostpatients do not have a second pair of functioning eyeglasses, they areoften without eyeglasses for the duration of the manufacturing process.For many patients, this scenario is at least inconvenient, if notintolerable, particularly for patients who use strong prescription lenspowers.

In order for the production laboratory to accurately fabricateprescription lenses to the exact size, shape, and dimensions required tofit a patient's frame, it is necessary to ship the patient's frame tothe laboratory. Because the patient's frame must be shipped to thelaboratory and then shipped back to the retail ophthalmic dispenser oncelens fabrication is complete, the service and delivery time for newprescription lenses ordered on behalf of the patient can often consumefive or more work days.

Some retail ophthalmic dispensers have attempted to address this issueby purchasing devices known in the industry as frame tracers atconsiderable expense. Frame tracers employed in the industry today aremechanical devices that require regularly scheduled and detailedcalibration by the retail ophthalmic dispenser. Preferably, frametracers are calibrated daily. A properly calibrated frame tracer canobtain sufficient lens geometry data to forward to the productionfacility. However, calibration is often not performed as a matter ofin-office routine, and even when calibration is performed regularly, itis not performed correctly. As a result, the lens geometry data that isobtained by improperly calibrated frame tracers can be substantiallyinaccurate.

Another issue that stems from the need to ship the patient's frame tothe laboratory is one of costs and initiation of unproductive laboractivity within the laboratory. Even though the Internet has facilitatedsending patients' prescription lens power requirements to a fabricatinglaboratory, certain prescription complexities may make it difficult orimpossible to begin production of new lenses until a patient's framearrives from the retail ophthalmic dispenser. This issue creates whatlaboratory personnel refer to as a prescription with a“frame-to-follow.”

Once a patient's frame arrives in the laboratory, it is necessary forlaboratory personnel to locate the specific prescription work order thatcorresponds to the frame, match the frame and the work order forproduction, and perform a frame trace on the frame. Once the frame hasbeen traced, an updated and completed work ticket is produced.Experience in managing and working in a production facility has shownthat this matching of a received frame and an initial job work ticketcan prove to be costly and time consuming, especially considering thatthe average production volume of a laboratory is in excess of 400 workorders per day.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to principles disclosed herein, an ophthalmic lens scannerincludes an inspection platform configured to receive an ophthalmic lensthereon. A camera is spaced apart from the inspection platform and isarranged to, in response to an activation signal, capture an image ofthe ophthalmic lens. A light source is spaced apart from the inspectionplatform and is configured to emit light when the camera is activated tocapture an image of the ophthalmic lens. The inspection platform islocated between the camera and the light source. A first Fresnel lens islocated between the inspection platform and the camera. A second Fresnellens is located between the inspection platform and the light source.The ophthalmic lens scanner may be incorporated in an ophthalmic lensscanner system that includes a computing device and a display device.

Certain advantages may be realized. For instance, a retail ophthalmicdispenser can scan a patient's old lenses and transmit accurate size,shape, and dimensional geometry to the laboratory, for example, via theInternet. When the laboratory receives the lens specifications, work canimmediately begin due to the accuracy of the data provided. As a result,completed prescription lenses can be shipped back to the retailophthalmic dispenser more quickly compared with conventional techniques.In addition, patients are not required to surrender their frames to theretail ophthalmic dispenser for shipment to the fabricating laboratory.

Additional objects, advantages, and features will become apparent fromthe following description and the claims that follow, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially disassembled view of an example ophthalmic lensscanner.

FIG. 2 is a disassembled view of an enclosure forming part of theexample ophthalmic lens scanner.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating functional components of the ophthalmiclens scanner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an example ophthalmic lens scanner.

FIG. 6 is an example computer system for use in operating the ophthalmiclens scanners of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is an example graphical user interface (GUI) for interfacing withthe ophthalmic lens scanner.

FIG. 8 is another example graphical user interface for interfacing withthe ophthalmic lens scanner.

FIG. 9 is still another example graphical user interface for interfacingwith the ophthalmic lens scanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An ophthalmic lens scanner includes an inspection platform configured toreceive an ophthalmic lens thereon. A camera is spaced apart from theinspection platform and is arranged to, in response to an activationsignal, capture an image of the ophthalmic lens. A light source isspaced apart from the inspection platform and is configured to emitlight when the camera is activated to capture an image of the ophthalmiclens. The inspection platform is located between the camera and thelight source. A first Fresnel lens is located between the inspectionplatform and the camera. A second Fresnel lens is located between theinspection platform and the light source. The ophthalmic lens scannermay be incorporated in an ophthalmic lens scanner system that includes acomputing device and a display device.

The following description is to be construed by way of illustrationrather than limitation. This description is not intended to limit thescope of the disclosure or the applications or uses of the subjectmatter disclosed in this specification. For example, while variousembodiments are described as being implemented in the context offabricating ophthalmic lenses, it will be appreciated that theprinciples of the disclosure are applicable to other environments.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the principles disclosedherein. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that theseprinciples may be practiced without some or all of these specificdetails. In other instances, well known components and process stepshave not been described in detail.

Some portions of this disclosure may be provided in the general contextof processor-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a processor. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Adistributed processing environment may be employed in which tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network or other data transmission medium. In adistributed processing environment, program modules and other data maybe located in both local and remote storage media, including memorystorage devices.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an example ophthalmiclens scanner 100. The ophthalmic lens scanner 100 includes a caseassembly 102 formed by a front case portion 104 and a rear case portion106. The front case portion 104 and the rear case portion 106, as wellas a door, may be formed by a Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) process,using silicone molds, from a resin known within the molding industry asResin UL94V-0 and formed to a nominal wall thickness of approximately0.125 inch (3.175 mm). The front case portion 104, the rear case portion106, and the door may be painted on inner and outer surfaces withsurface texturing on the outer surfaces. The front case portion 104 andthe rear case portion 106 may be approximately 19 inches (482.6 mm)tall, forming the case assembly 102 with a desktop footprint base of amodified square shape measuring approximately 8 inches (203.2 mm) at itswidest points. From this base, the case assembly 102 tapers up itsheight to a top view having a similar shape as the base and measuringapproximately 5.5 inches (139.7 mm) at its widest points.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the case assembly 102 in an unassembled stateand in an assembled state, respectively. FIG. 4 is a diagram thatillustrates functional components of the ophthalmic lens scanner 100.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the front case portion 104 houses a numberof hardware components. A camera 108 is mounted near the top of thefront case portion 104. The camera 108 may be implemented, for example,as a LIFECAM® VX-6000 camera, commercially available from MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond, Wash., USA, and may connect to a computingdevice (not shown in FIG. 1) via, for example, a Universal Serial Bus(USB) interface. The camera 108 may be controlled by software installedand executing on the computing device, such as OEM software ^3^39/XVideoOCX driver software. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat other types of cameras can be used to implement the camera 108, andthat the software used to control the camera 108 can differ from thesoftware disclosed herein.

The camera 108 is used to capture an image of an ophthalmic prescriptionlens when the ophthalmic prescription lens is placed in an inspectionarea 110. A door, shown in FIG. 3 at reference character 112, isoperable by sliding between an open position as shown in FIG. 3 and aclosed position in which the door 112 covers the inspection area 110.The door 112 depicted in FIG. 3 measures approximately 4.5 inches (114.3mm) in height and travels its length by means of two externally visiblelinear rod bearings on each side of the front case. When properlyassembled, the door 112 becomes essentially attached to the front easeportion 104 of the ophthalmic lens scanner 100. When the door 112 ispositioned in the open position, an ophthalmic prescription lens can beplaced in the inspection area 110 on an inspection platform 114. Thedoor 112 can then be moved to the closed position for capturing an imageof the ophthalmic prescription lens. In the closed position, the door112 is held in place by four neodymium disc magnets, each measuringapproximately 0.375 inch by 0.25 inch (9.525 mm by 6.35 mm) and beingrated at approximately 4.7 pull pounds (2.132 kg). The door 112 is movedvertically using a small protrusion on the front of the door's case andis the only moving part of the ophthalmic lens scanner 100.

The inspection area 110 also incorporates a shield 116 thatsubstantially isolates the ophthalmic prescription lens from ambientlight and promotes high contrast between the ophthalmic prescriptionlens and the background as the image of the ophthalmic prescription lensis captured by the camera 108. The shield 116 is preferably dark orblack in color. Two Fresnel lenses 118 and 120 are mounted behind theshield 116 and near the top and bottom, respectively, of the shield 116.The Fresnel lenses 118 and 120 may each have a focal length ofapproximately 6 inches (152.4 mm) with approximately 125 grooves perinch (4.92 grooves per millimeter) on one surface and may be of aninfinite conjugate ratio design. The Fresnel lenses 118 and 120 may behand cut to a diameter of approximately 4.25 inches (107.95 mm) and aremounted in such a manner that the grooved surfaces of the Fresnel lenses118 and 120 face one another.

Near the bottom of the ophthalmic lens scanner 100 is a light source122. The light source 122 may be implemented, for example, as amulti-LED power source lighting board. The lighting board may becircular in shape and contains a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs).For example, the lighting board may be approximately 3.25 inches (82.55mm) in diameter with one LED mounted at or near the center of the boardand 18 LEDs mounted in a substantially circular pattern around thecenter light. As a particular example, six LEDs may be positioned so asto form a circle having a radius of approximately 0.5 inch (12.7 mm),and twelve LEDs may be positioned so as to form a circle having a radiusof approximately 1.1 inches (27.94 mm). It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that other configurations of LEDs, potentiallyinvolving more or fewer LEDs, may be employed. The center LED may beconfigured to be independently controlled from the other eighteen LEDs.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the rear case portion 106 houses a USB hub124 and an input/output (I/O) module 126. The USB hub 124 enables thecomputing device to communicate with multiple peripheral devices using asingle USB cable 128 that is connected to the computing device. The USBhub 124 may be implemented, for example, using a model F5U304-WHT USBhub device, commercially available from Belkin International, Inc., ofPlaya Vista, Calif., USA. This type of hub device supports the USB 2.0standard and incorporates four ports, allowing the computing device tocommunicate with up to four peripherals using the USB hub 124. In theophthalmic lens scanner 100 shown in FIGS. 1-4, the camera 108, I/Omodule 126, and light source 122 are connected to the USB hub 124, as isthe USB cable 128.

The I/O module 126 may be implemented using a model USB-1024LS dataacquisition device commercially available from Measurement ComputingCorporation of Norton, Mass., USA. This data acquisition device is a24-bit digital USE-based device that converts signals received from thecomputing device to voltage signals that control the light source 122.Electrical leads from the power board are connected to specific ports onthe I/O module 126 such that the LEDs of the light source 122 areactivated in response to commands received from operating softwareinstalled and executing on the computing device.

Near the base of the rear case portion 106 is an opening 130 from whichthe USB cable 128 extends. Additionally, adjacent to the opening 130 isa power jack from which a power cord is inserted to supply electricityrequired to activate the light source 122.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an example ophthalmic lens scanner 200.The ophthalmic lens scanner 200 includes an enclosure tower 202, whichmay be formed from stainless steel. The enclosure tower 202 houses anumber of hardware components and may be mounted within a case 204. Acamera 206 is mounted near the top of the enclosure tower 202. Thecamera 206 may be implemented, for example, as a LIFECAM® VX-6000camera, commercially available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Wash., USA, and may connect to a computing device (not shown in FIG. 5)via, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. The camera 206may be controlled by software installed and executing on the computingdevice, such as OEM software ^3^39/XVideo OCX driver software. It willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of camerascan be used to implement the camera 206, and that the software used tocontrol the camera 206 can differ from the software disclosed herein.

The camera 206 is mounted onto a movable platform 208 that can beadjusted horizontally and vertically, or in an “X/Y” coordinate fashion,during assembly to achieve proper alignment of the camera 206, Fresnellenses 210 and 212, and a light source 214. This movable platform 208 ismounted to an underside of a rigid top plate of the tower enclosure 202and can be adjusted via two set screws (not shown in FIG. 5), one movingthe platform along the “X” coordinate axis and the other moving theplatform along the “Y” coordinate axis.

Below the camera 206, e.g., at a distance of approximately 5.433 inches(138 mm) from the camera 206 is the Fresnel lens 210. The Fresnel lens212 is mounted within the enclosure tower 202, e.g., at a distance ofapproximately 4.587 inches (116.5 mm) below the Fresnel lens 210. TheFresnel lenses 210 and 212 may each have a focal length of approximately6 inches (152.4 mm) with approximately 125 grooves per inch (4.92grooves per millimeter) on one surface and may be of an infiniteconjugate ratio design. The Fresnel lenses 210 and 212 may be hand cutto a diameter of approximately 4.25 inches (107.95 mm) and are mountedin such a manner that the grooved surfaces of the Fresnel lenses 210 and212 face one another.

Mounted on top of, but not touching, the Fresnel lens 212 is aninspection platform 216. The inspection platform 216 may be formed froma flat, clear piece of glass measuring approximately 4.125 inches (104.7mm) in diameter. In operation, the ophthalmic lens to be inspected isplaced on the inspection platform.

Below the Fresnel lens 212, e.g., at a distance of approximately 6.086inches (154.6 mm) from the Fresnel lens 212, is the light source 214.The light source 214 may be implemented, for example, as a multi-LEDpower source lighting board. The lighting board may be circular in shapeand contains a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs). For example, thelighting board may be approximately 3.25 inches (82.55 mm) in diameterwith one LED mounted at or near the center of the board and 18 LEDsmounted in a substantially circular pattern around the center light. Asa particular example, six LEDs may be positioned so as to form a circlehaving a radius of approximately 0.5 inch (12.7 mm), and twelve LEDs maybe positioned so as to form a circle having a radius of approximately1.1 inches (27.94 mm). It will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that other configurations of LEDs, potentially involving more orfewer LEDs, may be employed. The center LED may be configured to beindependently controlled from the other eighteen LEDs.

The light source 214 may be enclosed in a cylinder measuring, forexample, approximately 3.0 inches by 1.12 inches (76.2 mm by 28.45 mm)for the purposes of maintaining proper lighting diffusion of the LEDsthrough the Fresnel lenses 210 and 212. The light source 214 is mountedon a movable platform 218 to allow circular movements that may berequired to insure proper alignment of the camera 206, Fresnel lenses210 and 212, and the center LED of the light source 214 during assembly.Once proper alignment of the light source 214 with the other componentsis obtained, the entire assembly can be clamped into its permanentposition.

The ophthalmic lens scanner 200 also includes a USB hub 220 and aninput/output (I/O) module 222. The USB hub 220 enables the computingdevice to communicate with multiple peripheral devices using a singleUSB cable 224 that is connected to the computing device. The USB hub 220may be implemented, for example, using a model F5U304-WHT USB hubdevice, commercially available from Belkin International, Inc., of PlayaVista, Calif., USA. This type of hub device supports the USB 2.0standard and incorporates four ports, allowing the computing device tocommunicate with up to four peripherals using the USB hub 220. In theophthalmic lens scanner 200 shown in FIG. 5, the camera 206, I/O module222, and light source 214 are connected to the USB hub 220, as is theUSB cable 224.

The I/O module 222 may be implemented using a model USB-1024LS dataacquisition device commercially available from Measurement ComputingCorporation of Norton, Mass., USA. This data acquisition device is a24-bit digital USB-based device that converts signals received from thecomputing device to voltage signals that control the light source 214.Electrical leads from the power board are connected to specific ports onthe 110 module 222 such that the LEDs of the light source 214 areactivated in response to commands received from operating softwareinstalled and executing on the computing device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system 300 that can beprogrammed to operate the ophthalmic lens scanner 100 or the ophthalmiclens scanner 200. The computer system 300 is only one example of asuitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the subject matterdescribed herein. The computer system 300 should not be construed ashaving any dependency or requirement relating to any one component orcombination of components shown in FIG. 6.

The computer system 300 includes a general computing device, such as acomputer 302. Components of the computer 302 may include, withoutlimitation, a processing unit 304, a system memory 306, and a system bus308 that communicates data between the system memory 306, the processingunit 304, and other components of the computer 302. The system bus 308may incorporate any of a variety of bus structures including a memorybus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any ofa variety of bus architectures. These architectures include, withoutlimitation, Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Enhanced ISA(EISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Video ElectronicsStandards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus, also known as Mezzanine bus.

The computer 302 also is typically configured to operate with one ormore types of processor readable media or computer readable media,collectively referred to herein as “processor readable media.” Processorreadable media includes any available media that can be accessed by thecomputer 302 and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, andremovable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, processor readable media may include storage media andcommunication media. Storage media includes both volatile andnon-volatile, and removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such asprocessor-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data. Storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile discs (DVDs) or other optical disc storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store thedesired information and that can be accessed by the computer 302.Communication media typically embodies processor-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any ofthe above are also intended to be included within the scope of processorreadable media.

The system memory 306 includes computer storage media in the form ofvolatile memory, non-volatile memory, or both, such as read only memory(ROM) 310 and random access memory (RAM) 312. A basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) 314 contains the basic routines that facilitate thetransfer of information between components of the computer 302, forexample, during start-up. The BIOS 314 is typically stored in ROM 310.RAM 312 typically includes data, such as program modules, that areimmediately accessible to or presently operated on by the processingunit 304. By way of example, and not limitation, FIG. 6 depicts anoperating system 316, application programs 318, other program modules320, and program data 322 as being stored in RAM 312.

The computer 302 may also include other removable or non-removable,volatile or non-volatile computer storage media. By way of example, andnot limitation, FIG. 6 illustrates a hard disk drive 324 thatcommunicates with the system bus 308 via a non-removable memoryinterface 326 and that reads from or writes to a non-removable,non-volatile magnetic medium, a magnetic disk drive 328 thatcommunicates with the system bus 308 via a removable memory interface330 and that reads from or writes to a removable, non-volatile magneticdisk 332, and an optical disk drive 334 that communicates with thesystem bus 308 via the interface 330 and that reads from or writes to aremovable, non-volatile optical disk 336, such as a CD-RW, a DVD-RW, oranother optical medium. Other computer storage media that can be used inconnection with the computer system 300 include, but are not limited to,flash memory, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, magnetic tape cassettes,digital video tape, etc.

The devices and their associated computer storage media disclosed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 6 provide storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, and other data that areused by the computer 302. In FIG. 6, for example, the hard disk drive324 is illustrated as storing an operating system 338, applicationprograms 340, other program modules 342, and program data 344. Thesecomponents can be the same as or different from the operating system316, the application programs 318, the other program modules 320, andthe program data 322 that are stored in the RAM 312. In any event, thecomponents stored by the hard disk drive 324 are different copies fromthe components stored by the RAM 312.

A user may enter commands and information into the computer 302 usinginput devices, such as a keyboard 346 and a pointing device 348, such asa mouse, trackball, or touch pad. Other input devices, which are notshown in FIG. 6, may include, for example, a microphone, a scanner, acamera, or the like. These and other input devices may be connected tothe processing unit 304 via a user input interface 350 that is connectedto the system bus 308. Alternatively, input devices can be connected tothe processing unit 304 via other interface and bus structures, such asa parallel port or a universal serial bus (USB).

A graphics interface 352 can also be connected to the system bus 308.One or more graphics processing units (GPUs) 354 may communicate withthe graphics interface 352. A monitor 356 or other type of displaydevice is also connected to the system bus 308 via an interface, such asa video interface 358, which may in turn communicate with video memory360. In addition to the monitor 356, the computer system 300 may alsoinclude other peripheral output devices, such as speakers 362 and aprinter 364, which may be connected to the computer 302 through anoutput peripheral interface 366.

The computer 302 may operate in a networked or distributed computingenvironment using logical connections to one or more remote computers,such as a remote computer 368. The remote computer 368 may be a personalcomputer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device, or anothercommon network node, and may include many or all of the componentsdisclosed above relative to the computer 302. The logical connectionsdepicted in FIG. 6 include a local area network ILAN) 370 and a widearea network (WAN) 372, but may also include other networks and buses.,Such networking environments are common in homes, offices,enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.

When the computer 302 is used in a LAN networking environment, it may beconnected to the LAN 370 through a wired or wireless network interfaceor adapter 374. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer302 may include a modem 376 or other means for establishingcommunications over the WAN 372, such as the Internet. The modem 376 maybe internal or external to the computer 302 and may be connected to thesystem bus 308 via the user input interface 350 or another appropriatecomponent. The modem 376 may be a cable or other broadband modem, adial-up modem, a wireless modem, or any other suitable communicationdevice. In a networked or distributed computing environment, programmodules depicted as being stored in the computer 302 may be stored in aremote memory storage device associated with the remote computer 368.For example, remote application programs may be stored in such a remotememory storage device. It will be appreciated that the networkconnections shown in FIG. 6 are exemplary and that other means ofestablishing a communication link between the computer 302 and theremote computer 368 may be used.

The computer 302 executes a number of software components to operate theophthalmic lens scanner 100 or the ophthalmic lens scanner 200. Forexample, to operate the ophthalmic lens scanner 100, the computer 302uses driver software for the camera 108 that is typically supplied on anoptical medium packaged with the camera 108. The computer 302 also usesdriver software for the I/O module 126 that is typically supplied on anoptical medium packaged with the I/O module 126. It will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that the driver software for the camera 108,the I/O module 126, or both can also be downloaded from websitesoperated by the respective manufacturers of the camera 108 and the I/Omodule 126.

In addition to this driver software, the computer 302 also executesoperating software that performs calculations relevant to theprescription lens geometry captured via the camera 108 or the camera 206and the lens image as projected through the Fresnel lenses 118 and 120or the Fresnel lenses 210 and 212. The operating software may beinstalled using optical media, such as the optical disk 336, or using anetwork connection to download the operating software from a server. Theoperating software is available from Practical Engineering, LLC, ofMinneapolis, Minn., USA.

When all of the software is successfully downloaded and activated ontothe computer 302 and the ophthalmic lens scanner 100 or the ophthalmiclens scanner 200 is plugged into a conventional wall electrical outlet(e.g., 110 V in the United States of America), a computer screen iconwill appear on the monitor 356. When the user selects the icon using,for example, the pointing device 348, the operating software isinitiated, and a user interface appears on the monitor 356.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example graphical user interface (GUI) 400 thatmay be presented on the monitor 356. The GUI 400 contains a number offunctional areas. An area 402 at the upper left portion of the GUI 400displays an image of the Fresnel lens 120 or the Fresnel lens 212. Whenan ophthalmic lens is placed in the ophthalmic lens scanner 100 or theophthalmic lens scanner 200, the user can see the ophthalmic lens andalign it along a white horizontal line that runs across a middle portion404 of the image of the Fresnel lens.

An area 406 at the upper right portion of the GUI 400 displays commandbuttons for calibrating the ophthalmic lens scanner 100 or theophthalmic lens scanner 200 and command buttons that initiate algorithmsfor determining prescription lens geometry. For example, the area 406displays buttons 408 and 410 that, when actuated, cause the ophthalmiclens scanner to scan a left eye lens or a right eye lens, respectively.An area 412 at the bottom portion of the GUI 400 allows the user to seea scaled image of the prescription lens that is produced by theoperating software when the user actuates the button 408 or the button410.

To prepare the ophthalmic lens scanner 100 or the ophthalmic lensscanner 200 for operation, a registration plate is placed on the lowerFresnel lens 120 or the lower Fresnel lens 212 to ensure that the imageof the registration plate is aligned, as shown in FIG. 8. When theregistration plate is in place, the operator actuates a Registrationcommand button 414 in the area 406 of the GUI 400. When the Registrationcommand button 414 is actuated, the operating software causes the centerLED in the lighting source to emit light, which passes through holes inthe registration plate and through the upper Fresnel lens 118 or theupper Fresnel lens 210 and onto the lens of the camera 108 or the camera206. This process verifies to the operating software that all of thecritical internal components—the camera, the Fresnel lenses, and thelight source—are all in direct line-of-light and optical axis alignment.Once optical axis alignment is achieved, the algorithms used in themathematical calculations are essentially activated and can thereforeproduce the desired prescription lens geometry captured via theinteractions of the camera, Fresnel lenses, and the lighting source.

Another procedure that is performed by the user in preparing theophthalmic lens scanner to determine a prescription lens geometryinvolves inserting a calibration object, such as a round calibrationdisc having a diameter of, for example, approximately 2 inches (50.8 mm)over the lower Fresnel lens 120 or the lower Fresnel lens 212, similarlyto the registration plate discussed above, FIG. 9 illustrates thecalibration disc in place, as depicted in the area 402 of the GUI 400.

With the calibration disc in place, the user actuates a Measure commandbutton 416, which is displayed in the area 406 of the GUI 400. When theMeasure command button 416 is actuated, the operating software capturesthe digital camera image via the light source 122 or the light source214 through the Fresnel lenses. The operating software then verifiesthat all of the radii around the perimeter of the disc are of the samelength as that described in the operating software as to what in realityis a known correct radius of, for example, an approximate 2 inch (50.8mm) diameter circle. When this process is successfully performed by theuser and verified by the software, accuracy of the geometric shape anddefinitive measurements of prescription lenses to be scanned may beensured.

The operating software for the ophthalmic lens scanner in conjunctionwith the driver software of the camera and the I/O module softwareprovide the necessary commands for the digital camera to capture imagesof ophthalmic lenses that are placed on the inspection plate. Theoperating software firsts add one pixel to each of the digital pointsinitially captured around the prescription lens image. The operatingsoftware then subtracts one pixel point from the digital pointsinitially captured and then uses an algorithm to derive and display onthe monitor 356 the completed shape of the prescription lens, the actualcircumference, or distance around the perimeter of the prescriptionlens, as well as the horizontal and vertical measurements of theprescription lens and the length of the two most distant points of theprescription lens. In this way, the geometry of the prescription lens isaccurately determined.

As demonstrated by the foregoing discussion, certain advantages may berealized. For instance, a retail ophthalmic dispenser can scan apatient's old lenses and transmit accurate size, shape, and dimensionalgeometry to the laboratory, for example, via the Internet. When thelaboratory receives the lens specifications, work can immediately begindue to the accuracy of the data provided. As a result, delivery of newprescription lenses to the patient can be completed at least 2-3 workingdays more quickly compared with conventional techniques. In addition,patients are not required to surrender their frames to the retailophthalmic dispenser for shipment to the fabricating laboratory.

It will be understood by those who practice the embodiments describedherein and those skilled in the art that various modifications andimprovements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe disclosed embodiments. The scope of protection afforded is to bedetermined solely by the claims and by the breadth of interpretationallowed by law.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ophthalmic lens scanner comprising: aninspection platform configured to receive an ophthalmic lens thereon; acamera spaced apart from the inspection platform and arranged to, inresponse to an activation signal, capture an image of the ophthalmiclens; a light source spaced apart from the inspection platform andconfigured to emit light when the camera is activated to capture animage of the ophthalmic lens, the inspection platform located betweenthe camera and the light source; a first Fresnel lens located betweenthe inspection platform and the camera; and a second Fresnel lenslocated between the inspection platform and the light source wherein thefirst and second Fresnel lenses are substantially parallel inorientation and wherein a grooved surface of each of the first andsecond lenses face one another.
 2. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim1, further comprising a housing enclosing the inspection platform, thecamera, the light source, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnellens.
 3. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 2, wherein the housingcomprises a door operable between an open position for receiving theophthalmic lens and a closed position for capturing the image of theophthalmic lens.
 4. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 3, furthercomprising a shield arranged proximate the inspection platform tosubstantially isolate the ophthalmic lens from ambient light when thecamera captures the image of the ophthalmic lens.
 5. The ophthalmic lensscanner of claim 2, further comprising a tower enclosure located withinthe housing, wherein the inspection platform, the camera, the lightsource, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lens are mountedto the tower enclosure.
 6. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 1,wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes(LEDs), and further comprising an input/output (I/O) module configuredto activate the LEDs in response to a command received in the I/Omodule.
 7. The ophthalmic lens scanner of claim 1, further comprising aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) hub, wherein the camera and the light sourceare electrically connected to the USB hub.
 8. An ophthalmic lens scannersystem comprising: a computing device; and an ophthalmic lens scanner inelectrical communication with the computing device, the ophthalmic lensscanner comprising: an inspection platform configured to receive anophthalmic lens thereon; a camera spaced apart from the inspectionplatform and arranged to, in response to an activation signal from thecomputing device, capture an image of the ophthalmic lens; a lightsource spaced apart from the inspection platform and configured to emitlight when the camera is activated to capture an image of the ophthalmiclens, the inspection platform located between the camera and the lightsource; a first Fresnel lens located between the inspection platform andthe camera; and a second Fresnel lens located between the inspectionplatform and the light source wherein the first and second Fresnellenses are substantially parallel in orientation and wherein a groovedsurface of each of the first and second lenses face one another.
 9. Theophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 8, further comprising a housingenclosing the inspection platform, the camera, the light source, thefirst Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lens.
 10. The ophthalmic lensscanner system of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a door operablebetween an open position for receiving the ophthalmic lens and a closedposition for capturing the image of the ophthalmic lens.
 11. Theophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 10, further comprising a shieldarranged proximate the inspection platform to substantially isolate theophthalmic lens from ambient light when the camera captures the image ofthe ophthalmic lens.
 12. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 9,further comprising a tower enclosure located within the housing, whereinthe inspection platform, the camera, the light source, the first Fresnellens, and the second Fresnel lens are mounted to the tower enclosure.13. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 8, wherein the lightsource comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), andfurther comprising an input/output (I/O) module configured to activatethe LEDs in response to a command received in the I/O module from thecomputing device.
 14. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 8,further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub, wherein the camera,the light source, and the computing device are electrically connected tothe USB hub.
 15. An ophthalmic lens scanner system comprising: acomputing device; an ophthalmic lens scanner in electrical communicationwith the computing device, the ophthalmic lens scanner comprising: ahousing defining an inspection area for receiving an ophthalmic lens; acamera located at a first end portion of the housing and controlled bythe computing device to capture an image of the ophthalmic lens; a lightsource located at a second end portion of the housing and controlled bythe computing device to emit light to illuminate the ophthalmic lens; afirst Fresnel lens located between the inspection area and the camera;and a second Fresnel lens located between the inspection area and thelight source wherein the first and second Fresnel lenses aresubstantially parallel in orientation and wherein a grooved surface ofeach of the first and second lenses face one another; and a displaydevice in electrical communication with the computing device andconfigured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) for controllingthe ophthalmic lens scanner and for viewing the image of the ophthalmiclens captured by the camera.
 16. The ophthalmic lens scanner system ofclaim 15, wherein the housing comprises a door operable between an openposition for receiving the ophthalmic lens and a closed position forcapturing the image of the ophthalmic lens.
 17. The ophthalmic lensscanner system of claim 15, wherein the ophthalmic lens scanner furthercomprises a shield arranged proximate the inspection area tosubstantially isolate the ophthalmic lens from ambient light when thecamera captures the image of the ophthalmic lens.
 18. The ophthalmiclens scanner system of claim 15, further comprising: an input/output(I/O) module configured to activate the light source in response to acommand received in the I/O module from the computing device; and aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) hub electrically connected to the camera, theI/O module, and the computing device for controlling the camera and thelight source.
 19. The ophthalmic lens scanner system of claim 15,wherein the computing device is configured to calibrate the ophthalmiclens scanner by using a registration plate to verify that the camera,the light source, the first Fresnel lens, and the second Fresnel lensare in optical axis alignment.
 20. The ophthalmic lens scanner system ofclaim 15, wherein the computing device is configured to calibrate theophthalmic lens scanner by causing the camera to capture an image of acalibration object having a known geometry and comparing the imagecaptured by the camera to the known geometry.